The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-03-04
From the Southern Bivouac.
THE DANCE OF DEATH.
BY. MRS. N. sHEFFREr PETERS.

more than this moonAower, lovely TO look upon,
but to be broken by the first rough usage. See!
cannot mako even this, small bud attach itself
again where it may gather life and beauty
anew
She beut forward, making pretty pretense
of re-uniting the plant and its severed blossom;
but instantly she started back, making vain
effort TO suppress tho exclamation Of pain or
terror, that sharply broke the stiffness of tho
conservatory. Her cry Was shriily echoed on
the instant from the clump OF forms close by,
which, violently agitated, gave sudden egress
to the figure of man.
1t was Bardinelli, late master in music to
Carolyn. 1t was 10 the side of his former pupil
he now dartel. Darby was still clasping her
in his arms, and was questioning her in IN
agony Of apprehension, while she, nervously
agitatcd, was using her wOmanly arts to reas-
sure him.
1t is nothing, Phil-a mere scratch-a sting.
great spider think. The creature nipped
me andleaped away before could see what il
was. All! Signor BariinClli is it you? Oh,
Phil-what-'
Pale and terrified she lay upon the breast of
her husband, who, livid as death, only held
her closely, making no effort to restrain the
Italian, who had without ceremony. seized
upon the brides hanl, upon one finger CT
which was appearing faint limo of discolora-
tion, marking the course Of the envenomed
sting she had received. The ono word spoken,
rs he applied his lips in suction to the wound,
had sent deadly chill to the bridegrooms heart
'Tarantula
% otran orI,r
what meant the drop or two Of grsenish liquid
which the Italian once or twice elected from
his lips, each time returning in mad. haste to
his task of peril. Darhy's bride knew, too,
what sisnifed Bardinelli's desperate earnest
ness, rs we'll Us she comprchended tho threat
ening Of danger to herself in the vertigo and
shivering already creeping over her. But nei.
ther of these thought of the risk Bardnelli was
hazarding; Rardineili himself did not give a
thought to the matter till the possible results of
his daring came to him in flash of conscious
ness. a a eager glance, convincing him Of the
fact that the poison was being abated in the
veins Of his whilom pupil revealed to him, be-
sides, fecS of blood close 10 the puucture in
the dainty hand over which he had been gloat-
ing. The blood, ho know, was from a wound
in his own lip. His strong teeth had nearly
net through it as he lay in hiding there beyond
the fern mound.
But the virus that WAS creeping from her
veins was as the wine Of life to him in compare
son with the venom Of Jealousy that had mad
dened him, rs he lay there Watching the we'd
ded lovers, reveling in their stolen bliss
1T is done, he said presently, lifting flush
ed face from his odd work There remains,
Signor Darpy, but the drop or two of poison
taken up by the blood before 1 could get to her.
The drop or two taken up by her blood?
Heaven of mercy is there no autidotc?
Bardinelli smiled.
There is one, but that may DO impossible
Speak, man There must bs no i'm possible
here
There shall be no impossible, Signor, if Bar
dinellis strength faint Ao' the Italian quietly
said. 'for tarantism, in my land, there are the
tarantulla Dances
Il know-I remember cried Darby. 1T is
music, music she must have, and you-you
Bardinelli-'
Il know the musc-yes When the poison
works in her nerves an brain she will move
and II will play the death dance for her.
Come, Signor Darby. let me carry her, can
best place her so that the faintest notes may
stir her numbed senses
Half frantic with agony Darby made no pro-
test, but yielded her to the Italian. Was not
the priceless life at his mercy? Had he asked
for tho heart in his bosom he would not have
wished to say him nay. Fragile of build though
he was, Bar dinelli caught up the lovely burden
surrendered to him and bore her, with The
strength and sreed Of an athlete, back to the
glare and languOrOus perfumes of the ball
room.
'iier life is mine" he muttered, in his halt
delirious joy as he felt the pulsations of her
heart answering to the wild-hrobbings Of the
poison charged arteries of his breast.
Awe-stricken, the wedding revelers cleared
the floor Of the dance hall. There were rapil
qrestionings and agitated replies, there were
groans here aud there and sobs half-rep rss.ed.
Then there was silence as of tho sepu lchre in
In the garish house. Through this silence sto,e
the first wierd notes Of Bardin ellis Dance of
Death.
No one looked at the musician, every eve
was fastened on the bride Of Philander Darby,
She lay upon tho wine-velyet of the divan.
white and rigid, about her trailei the satin
and lace and orange and flowers Of her bridal
attire.
Bardinelafs violin wa' giving forth quicker
strains. So fantastic were the chorls, now
plaintive and imploring, now full off mad en-
ergy. anon dropping into fithomlcss depths Of
pathos, it seemed as though the player were
improvising the airs, telling to the still figure
on the couch the tale of q life noble in its
dreams and aspirations, tragic in its failures.
Yet through the wondrous harmony dropped
ever, clear and pure as shower of pearls. the
notes of The rvthmic tarantelI, waltz